Help!!!!! Medium Speed Howling
 

In the last couple hundred miles I have noticed a new howling sound that starts at around 65 and reaches its loudest at 75 mph. The best way to describe it is it sounds like a Toyota with 44" Boggers. You know that sound agressive tires make when at freeway speeds.

My thoughts on the problem range from an out of balance rear wheel and tire, to shot bearings to the new 520 chain and sprocket not being aligned properly.

The bike only has 16,000 miles on it.

What leads me to believe its the bearings is that the hub gets quite hot after just a 20 mile ride. The sprocket carrier got hot today after just 5 miles. When I say hot I mean to where you have to juggle it in your hands for a couple seconds before gripping it firmly.

The axel is free of scratches or any abnormal wear. The bearings turn freely. The only thing that Im not sure of is the collar between the bearings in the rear rim. It moves around a lot and even seems to like to seat off center in one particular position.

So thats a lot of info but I know you can never diagnose a problem over the net.

Anyone have anything similar happen to them?????

Re: Help!!!!! Medium Speed Howling
 

I think I am hearing the same thing but my bike has less than 2500 on it.

Re: Help!!!!! Medium Speed Howling
 

It sounds like you may have too much tension on the drive chain. This could accont for a hot rear sprocket as well as the noise. Is to chain heating up as well?

What kind of chain did you use? O ring? X ring?

I once installed a STANDARD chain (it was a freebie) on my GS1000, and I had it adjusted too tight. The chain quickly stretched unevenly, became hot, and broke after less than 200 miles of use.

Re: Help!!!!! Medium Speed Howling
 

The Beer Man was right. Someone from another board suggested the same thing and I thought I had adjusted it properly. I went and checked and it was tight as could be. Loosened it up and the sound went away. Now I just hope the extra tension disnt mess up the bearings too bad.

Re: Help!!!!! Medium Speed Howling
 

How many miles did you put on it when it was too tight? If not that many I wouldn't worry.